Michigan

Vandercook Lake's Thye Fischman slides into home plate to score a run during their doubleheader against Michigan Center on Monday, May 20, at Vandercook Lake High School. The two teams split the doubleheader. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

Even though Michigan Center's baseball team let one get away against Vandercook Lake on Monday, the Cardinals still have a fighting chance in the Cascades Conference.

Michigan Center won the first game of a doubleheader, 7-1, before Vandercook Lake regrouped and took a 10-5 victory in the nightcap.

The win puts Michigan Center at 15-6 overall and 10-2 in the Cascades. Michigan Center closes with Hanover-Horton in a doubleheader on May 28, and a sweep by Michigan Center would tie Manchester at 12-2 for the league championship.

"I hope we can learn from our mistakes today and come out strong," Michigan Center coach Matt Desmarais said. "These games coming up will be really important. Manchester is done with conference play, so we have to win both to split the league."

Hunter Klaassen picked up the victory in the first game and improved to 8-0 overall. Klaassen walked none and struck out seven, and he allowed one run on two hits.

"Hunter is doing a good job keeping teams off balance," Desmarais said about his junior hurler. "He was a starter last year and didn't have the wins, but the work he put in over the offseason is really starting to pay off."

Klaassen got some help when Michigan Center came out and scored four runs in that first inning.

Vandercook Lake's Travis Hamlin took the loss in game one, striking out seven, walking six, and allowing nine hits in six innings.

For more on this event and other high school sports action, visit the Jackson region preps page.